STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA  BY THE DELEGATION OF ARGENTINA ON AGENDA ITEM 135: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE JOINT INSPECTION UNIT FOR 2010 AND PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR 2011, AT THE FIRST PART OF THE RESUMED SIXTY-FIFTH SESSION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

1.                     I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 135 entitled Joint Inspection Unit.

 

2.                     The Group would like to thank the Chairman of the Joint Inspection Unit, Mr. Mounir Zahran, for introducing the Unit's Annual Report for 2010 and programme of work for 2011 as contained in document A/65/34. We also thank Senior Adviser on Information Management Policy Coordination of the Secretariat of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, Mr. Kenneth Herman, for introducing the note of the Secretary-General.

 

3.                     The Group of 77 and China attaches great importance to the work of the Joint Inspection Unit as the sole external and independent system-wide oversight body in the United Nations system. Participating organizations and Member States continue to benefit from the valuable work the Unit has carried out under its Statute.

 

4.                     The Group notes with encouragement that the Unit has continued to improve its working methods in order to enhance its overall effectiveness and the quality of outputs. We commend the Unit for its efforts and wish to reiterate our full-fledged support for the Unit’s efforts in further improving its working methods.

 

5.                     The Group fully supports the Unit's strategic framework for 2010-2019 which has already been approved by the General Assembly. We note with concern in this regard that the strategic framework has not been matched with the required increase in resources and hence could not be implemented in 2010. The Group wishes to get clarification from the Controller on this matter.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

6.                     The Group of 77 and China appreciates the efforts made by the Unit in carrying out its program of work 2010 by focusing on system-wide issues, with eight system-wide topics out of ten projects. We concur with the notion of the Unit that this implies a much more demanding program in terms of resources.

 

7.                     We note with concern that the year 2010 has witnessed limited progress concerning the uptake of the Unit’s recommendations by Member States and the implementation by the responsible Secretariat entities. We believe that all legislative organs should fully table, consider and discuss JIU reports and all responsible Secretariat entities should implement the accepted recommendations of the Unit in a timely manner. In this regard, the Group expresses its full support for the speedy implementation of the General-Assembly-mandated web-based follow-up system, which will greatly facilitate knowledge management and action on the JIU´s reports.

 

8.                     The Group is encouraged to note that the Unit continues its active interactions with other oversight bodies including the Board of Auditors and the Office of Internal Oversight Services. Sharing information of program of work, experiences and best practices will ensure greater collaboration and avoid possible overlap and duplication.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

9.                     The Group of 77 and China wishes to commend the Joint Inspection Unit for the Programme of Work for 2011 which includes a total of 11 programs, including 9 system-wide programs. We trust that the analysis and review by the Unit on such issues as accountability frameworks, investigations functions and individual consultancy are of significant relevance and great value to Member States and the participating organizations.

 

10.                   In conclusion, we wish to reiterate our support to the continued relevance of the Unit and its mandate and important role as the independent external oversight body in the UN system.

 

Thank you.